The upside of being old and unemployed

Oh, right. That's also called Retirement, though it started out as Laid Off.

No posts for all these months because I couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't whiny. Illness and injury are states shared by everyone and especially as they get old, but no one really wants to hear about anyone else's. So you won't hear about mine, or at least not too much, I hope. But illness and injury do take up a lot of time and attention, and writing a really boring blog about getting up and doing what you have to and going back to bed is my idea of intensifying the torture. Enough to say that right now everybody is on the mend and looking pretty good.

So today a Nor'Easter is screaming around the house, and it's time to take off for my knitting group. A couple of hours ago I was gazing glumly at a mental picture of myself at the bus stop, umbrella inside out and hood blown off while branches flew from trees and onto my head.

But wait! I don't have to go to knitting group! There's more! I don't lose a day's pay for not showing up, and the others in the group won't even be mad at me! That's because I don't get a paycheck that requires that I stand at the bus stop getting soaked by rain and passing traffic, and dodging flying branches.

That leaves me in the house doing what absolutely has to be done and marking time until going back to bed. Hmm, sounds familiar. But the house is warm and dry, my Christmas knitting projects are yelling at me from their bags, and soup is bubbling on the stove. Today's special is leek and potato, with a tiny pot of chicken and rice soup on the side for the one who has a stomach bug. (OK, so we're not all in perfect health ...) The dog and cat are practicing their Power Naps. They may be why I always want to lie down. They look so happy.

Aforementioned knitting projects include a punk winter hat with earflaps and a black and pink mohawk on top, requested by a daring and beautiful sister in law, thrummed mittens (a design from the Maritime Provinces, lined with fleece "thrums") for a sister who walks her dog in Wisconsin winters, a Fibonacci Rainbow scarf for a brother who requested "something bright"(Bright it definitely is, but I am the eldest sibling, and dedicated to teasing the younger ones. Who knew the impulse would last all my life?) Last, a couple of hats, whose design hasn't been determined yet, for nieces.

In sum, today being old and idle ain't so bad.